Premier League referee Anthony Taylor has announced his sudden retirement after a 20-year career spanning more than 800 games. The 47-year-old Manchester official officiated 668 professional domestic matches and every major English cup final.
Promoted to the Premier League in 2010, Taylor refereed at four major tournaments, including the last two World Cups and the 2020 and 2024 European Championships. He took charge of 163 international matches, with his final game being this month's World Cup last-16 tie between Portugal and Spain.
Controversies
Taylor faced criticism from managers, players, and fans throughout his career. In 2023, he was confronted by Jose Mourinho in a car park after Roma's Europa League final defeat to Sevilla in Budapest. Taylor and his family were then harangued by Roma fans at Budapest Airport. He later told his family to stop attending his games, calling it "the worst situation I've dealt with in terms of abuse."
During Euro 2020, Taylor was praised for his calmness when Christian Eriksen collapsed from cardiac arrest, stopping the match and calling for medical attention quickly. At Euro 2024, he was criticized for not awarding Germany a penalty against Spain after Jamal Musiala's shot hit Marc Cucurella's arm. A subsequent UEFA report said Taylor had erred.
In the Premier League, Taylor issued a record 14 yellow cards in a Chelsea vs Bournemouth match in September 2024, leading to a demotion to fourth official the following week. In 2023, he was demoted to the Championship after awarding Newcastle a penalty in a 2-2 draw with Wolves.
Premier League Pay
Taylor earned around £250,000 per year at the time of his retirement, with match fees exceeding £1,000 per game. A conservative estimate puts his top-flight earnings at over £2.5 million. He also received a final payday at the World Cup, where officials can earn up to £75,000.
Retirement Reason
Taylor cited the pressure and scrutiny of elite officiating. He said: "Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant. The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career."
His statement suggests a planned next move, possibly following Howard Webb and Mark Clattenburg into roles in Saudi Arabian football or other leagues.
